Razor and sharpener therefor



Aug. 21, 1951 J. M. THOMAS RAZOR AND SHARPENER THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27. 1947 Aw M NN i lurllllrllfvll iii-5M Av.

INVENTOR.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 5 II n IIIII/Il J. M. THOMAS RAZOR AND SHARPENER THEREFOR Aug. 21, 1951 Filed Sept. 27. 1947 INVENTOR. J&/// /7 77/0/ 755,

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Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a razor and sharpener therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and lightweight safety razor and an independent sharpener in the form of a case for the razor, the razor being constructed so that the blade is automatically sharpened whenever the razor is inserted or withdrawn from the case.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a safety razor which may be used for shaving and which may be cleaned and sharpened without the necessity of manipulating or assembling and disassembling any of its parts.

More specifically the invention contemplates the provision of a safety razor and an independent rack for the razor having a sharpening device thereon and on which the razor is adapted to be retained when not in use. The rack is arranged to be provided with means for actuating the sharpening device Whenever the rack is inserted or withdrawn from the case.

Some of the more important features of the invention include a novel arrangement for locking the blade guard in shaving position whenever the razor is removed from the sharpening rack, including means for automatically varying the locked position of the guard with respect to the cutting edge of the blade so as to compensate for shortening of the blade due to repeated sharpening. The invention also contemplates a novel sharpening device in which a pair of honing rollers simultaneously rotate and reciprocate across both faces of the blade edge to produce an extremely fine and uniform cutting edge,-the rollers being mounted on the rack so as to automatically compensate for the gradual wearing down of the abrading surface of the rollers and thereby maintain the rollers in aligned position at all times.

Other objects and novel features of the in vention will become evident from "the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the razor case of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the case with the sharpening rack and razor of the present invention arranged therein in the closed position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the case showing the rack in the extended position and relative positions of the razor.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a. sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 in Figure 2. I

' .are journaled at the other end.

I modified embodiments of the Figure 9 is a perspective view of the razor. Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line l0-l 0 in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along line I ll l in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the rear end of the sharpening rack showing the locking arrangement for the razor handle.

Figure 13 is a partial bottom view of the razor partly in section.

Figure 14 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified construction of razor of this invention.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines l5--l5 in Figure 14.

In the drawings, wherein the preferred and invention are shown, the razor is indicated generally by the numeral III, the sharpening rack by the numeral II and the razor case by the numeral l2. The

razor Ill comprises a substantially hollow handle portion l3 and a head M on which a blade I5 is fixedly secured. An arm I6 integral with head l4 extends into handle [3 through the forward end of the handle. A pin ll passing through the walls of the handle and an elongated slot l8 in arm [8 permits limited longitudinal movement of head l4 relative to handle I3. Within handle I3 a compression spring 23 is arranged to act between the forward end wall 2i of the handle and a projecting lug 22 on arm It to urge the head in a direction inwardly of handle 13. The end portion of arm I6 within handle I3 is provided with a plurality of gripping teeth 23 which are arranged to be engaged by spring fingers 24 mounted within handle l3 adjacent the lower I end thereof as by rivet 25.

At the forward end of handle 13 a blade guard 26 is mounted as at 21 so as to pivot from a .position remote from the blade as is indicated in Figure 2 to a position in contact with blade l3 as is shown by the solid lines in Figure 3. A

. spring 28 biases guard 26 to the blade contacting position, the blade serving as a stop for the it is desired to remove or replace the rollers.

each other at all times.

guard in this position with the guard teeth 29 lying adjacent the cutting edge of the blade. Guard 25 is interconnected with head M by means of a cam finger 30 which projects from the guard 26 through a guide hole 3| in head l4. Cam finger 30 is of arcuate shape and is arranged to be pushed downwardl by head l4 when the head is moved outwardly of handle l3 so as to pivot guard 26 away from the blade l5. When head I4 is moved inwardly of handle |3 under the influence of spring 20, guard 26 is automatically returned to the shaving position adjacent the cutting edge of blade l by reason of spring 28.

Rack comprises a substantially rectangular frame member 35 which is adapted to slide within longitudinal guides 33 in case l2 and on which the sharpening means for the razor are mounted. An end plate 36 at one end of frame 1-5 serves as a closure for the open end of case i2 when the rack II is fully inserted within the case. At the rear end of frame 35 a U-shaped key 38 and a spring catch 39 are loosely pivoted within slots 40 in a pair of ears I9. Suitable openings 32 and 34 are provided at the end of handle |3 through which key 38 and catch 39 are adapted to be inserted. When handle I3 is inserted over these members catch 39 serves to lock the razor on the rack as by the shoulder engagement at 31 and key 38 depresses fingers 24 out of engage ment with teeth 23 and at the same time abuts against and pushes arm H5 outwardly of handle |3 as is best shown in Figure 2. When arm I6 is pushed outwardly in this manner, cam finger 36 is actuated by head l4 to pivot guard 26 downwardly and away from blade l5 as previously explained. Provision is made for automatically pivotin guard 25 in this manner so that when the razor is mounted on rack it can be lowered into sharpening position with blade l5 disposed between a pair of cooperating honing rollers 4| and with guard 26 pivoted to a position free of these rollers.

A pair of lugs 42 struck up from a reinforcing cross bar 43 on frame 35 engage the sides of handle l3 and maintain the razor in proper transverse alignment when lowered into the sharpening position. Self-alignment of blade I5 with respect to rollers 4| is further insured by reason of slots 40 which permit the razor to adjust itself freely in a longitudinal direction.

Rollers 4| may be formed of any material suitable for producing a sharp edge on blade I5. Each roller is mounted on a shaft 44 which extends transversely of frame 35 such that the axes of the rollers are parallel to the edge of blade l5 when the razor is in sharpening position. As is best shown in Figures 7 and 8, at one end shafts I 44 are retained within a longitudinal slot 45 in frame 35 and at the other end shafts 44 are supported by a notched hanger 45 which is clipped on frame 35 so as to be removable when The rollers are urged into tangential contact with "each other by a pair of clips 41 pivoted on each side of frame 35 as by pin 48. Clips 41 engage shafts 44 with converging edge portions 49 and are biased over the end portions of shafts 44 by springs 55 so that the rollers are urged towards erably comprises a gear rack 5| extending longi- It will be observed that' tudinally within case I2 adjacent one of the guides 33. Rack 5| is arranged to engage with pinions 52 fixed at adjacent ends of shafts 44. It will be appreciated how by reciprocating rack into and out of case l2 rollers 4| will be rotated against the edge of blade 15 first in one direction and then the other to produce a keen edge.

I have found that an even superior cutting edge may be produced if rollers 4| are reciprocated axially as well as rotated. Accordingly at the ends opposite pinions 52 each roller is provided with a stationary cam bushing 53 which cooperates with a cam surface 54 on the roller to reciprocate the rollers transversely of frame 35 whenever they are rotated. Bushings 53 are retained in fixed position on shafts 44 by means of integral lugs 55 which project into the slotted portion 45 of frame 35 as is best shown in Figure '7. Rollers 4| are urged into face to face contact with bushings 53 by springs 56 acting between the ends of the rollers opposite bushings 53 and the inner face of arm 41. The combined rotating and axially reciprocating rollers 4| which results from this arrangement not only produces a honing action on the blade edge but also tends to remove any irregularities on the blade such as nicks and the like and also irregularities which might otherwise be formed by irregularities on the rollers themselves.

A stop 5'! in the bottom wall of case 22 is arranged to engage the end of frame 35 and limit the outward movement of rack H to a position just sufiicient to permit the razor when mounted on the rack, to be pivoted into and out of contact with sharpening rolls 4| as is shown in Figure 3. It will be observed that as rack approaches this position only one of the pinions 52 is engaged by gear rack 5|. Consequently toward the end of the outward movement of rack H blade l5 will tend to wedge in between the rollers since it is being acted upon only by one of the rollers. It is essential therefore that during that portion of the stroke when only one of the rollers is being rotated, blade I5 is raised out of contact with the rollers. It is equally important that the razor is maintained in contact with the sharpening rollers with uniform pressure during that portion of the stroke when both rollers are being rotated.

The means for accomplishing both of these functions comprise a hold-down plate 58 pivoted on frame 35 as at 59. Plate 58 is provided with an overhanging portion 60 for engaging over the razor head l4 and a spring 6| which biases the plate downwardly on the razor so that blade I5 is maintained in contact with the rollers with a uniform light pressure. Plate 58 is also provided with integral lifting fingers 62 of arcuate shape which are arranged to engage beneath bent corner portions 53 of head l4. As rack approaches the limit of its outward movement, plate 58 is cammed upwardly by studs 64 which project inwardly from the side walls of case 12 and over which cam fingers 52 are arranged to ride.

Case |2 may be formed of plastic or other suitable material so as to provide an attractive and convenient carrying case for the razor when not in use. Means such as a hook arrangement 75, are preferably provided for suspending the case in a detachable manner from a wall or other supporting member.

In Figure 14 I have shown a modified construction of razor embodying this invention. Guard 5 s piv tally mounted on handle |3 as by a pin lines H in Figure 3 65. However, instead of employing a cam finger 30 for pivoting the guard to and from the shaving position, a pinion 66 may be fixed on pin 65 so as to engage with a gear rack portion 61 on arm [6. It will be seen that when arm [6 is actuated in an outward direction guard 26 will be pivoted away from blade l5 and likewise, when arm [6 moves inwardly of the handle, guard 26 is pivoted toward blade H5.

The manner in which the razor is sharpened and removed or replaced in the case is both simple and convenient. Assuming that the razor is in the shaving condition, that is, as illustrated in Figure 9, and it is desired to sharpen the blade,

the operator first withdraws rack l I from case 12, as by means of a finger ring H1 on plate 36, until the rack abuts against stop 51. When the rack has been withdrawn to this position, stop plate 58 is in the raised. position as is indicated in Figure 3. The operator next inserts handle l3 over key 38 until the handle is engaged and locked in place by spring catch 39, which operation causes guard 25 to pivot to the opened position as previously described. The razor may then be lowered to the position indicated by the broken in which position it is supported above and out of contact with rollers 4| by fingers 62 on hold down plate 58. The operator then reciprocates rack ll into and out of the case several times and the blade is automatically sharpened. As the rack is pushed into the case hold down plate 58 is released from stud 64 and is pivoted downwardly by spring 6| so that the overhanging portion 5|] slides over the blade holder l4 and maintains blade I5 in contact with the sharpening rollers 4| during the reciprocating movement of the rack which movement also rotates and oscillates the rollers in the manner previously described.

After the blade has been sharpened the operator depresses spring catch 39 and removes the razor from the rack. Removal of the razor automatically releases arm l6 and returns guard 26 to, the blade contacting position by spring fingers 24 and the razor is then restored to the shaving condition.

Since guard i5 is locked in the blade protecting position whenever the razor is removed from the rack, it will be appreciated that abusive use of the blade for purposes other than shaving is prevented. This feature also lessens the possibility of injury to the operator while using the razor since the blade edge is exposed only when the razor is mounted on the sharpening rack. It will also be observed that the blade edge is subjected to the honing action of rollers 4| whenever the razor is removed or replaced in the case. In most instances no sharpening of the blade is required other than that which normally occurs each time the razor is used, that is by removing and replacing it within the case, and the razor is therefore available for shaving in a sharpened condition at all times.

I claim:

1, A razor comprising a substantially hollow handle, a head at one end of said handle, a blade fixedly supported by said head, a guard on said handle for protecting the cutting edge of said blade, an actuating member extending within said handle for pivoting said guard to and from the blade protecting position, and locking means within said handle for locking said actuating member with said guard in said blade protecting position, said locking means comprising a spring catch member and a keeper member shaped to 6. be engaged by said catch member, one of said members being secured to said handle and the other to a portion of said actuating member within said handle, said handle having an opening therein for receiving a tool for disengaging said spring catch from said keeper member to permit pivoting of said guard out of said blade protecting position.

2. A razor comprising a handle, a head mounted on said handle for movement longitudinally of said handle, a blade fixedly supported by said head at one end of said handle, a guard pivoted on said handle for movement to and from a shaving position in contact with said blade and adjacent the cutting edge thereof, means interconnecting said guard and head for transferring longitudinal movement of said head into pivot-a1 movement of said guard and means for locking said head and handle against relative movement comprising a ratchet on one of said members and a spring catch on the other member engageable with said ratchet when the guard is pivoted to said shaving position.

3. In combination, a razor havinga handle, a blade fixedly supported at one end of said handle, a guard for said blade on said handle, an actuating member on said handle for shifting said guard to and from a shaving position adjacent the cutting edge of said blade, a frame, a pair of sharpening rollers on said frame, and means on said frame engageable with said handle for supporting said razor on said frame with the blade cooperatingwith said rollers, said supporting means including a finger on said frame positioned to engage with said actuating member for shifting said guard out of shaving position when said handle is engaged with said support means.

4. In combination, a razor having a handle, a head at one end of said handle, a blade, means rigidly supporting said blade on said head so that a major portion of said blade is unobstructed on either side by said head and handle, a guard pivoted on said handle for movement to and from a position adjacent the cutting edge of said blade, an actuating member on said handle for pivoting said guard, a frame, a pair of sharpening rollers on said frame, said rollers cooperating tangentially to provide a sharpening groove therebetween, a holding member pivoted on said frame and engageable with said handle for positioning the razor on said frame with the blade disposed in said sharpening groove, said holding member including a finger portion positioned to engage said actuating member for shifting said guard away from said blade when the handle is arranged in engagement with said holding member.

5. In combination, a razor having a handle, a head at one end of said handle, a blade fixedly supported on said head, a guard pivoted on said handle for movement from a shaving position adjacent the cutting edge of said blade to a sharpening position remote from the edge of said blade, an actuating member within said handle for pivotingsaid guard, means within said handle for releasably locking said actuating member on said handle with the guard in shaving position, and mean independent of said razor for sharpening said blade without removal from said razor comprising a frame, a pair of sharpening rollers on said frame, means on said frame for positioning said razor on said frame so that the cutting edge of said blade cooperates with said sharpening rollers, said handle having a socket therein, said positioning means includinga finger operable when inserted in said socket to release said looking means and engage said actuating member to shift said guard from said shaving to said sharpening position.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including resilient means within said handle biasing said head in a direction tending to pivot the guard to said shaving position.

'7. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said handle is hollow, said locking means being disposed within said handle, said handle having an opening therein for accommodating a tool for disengaging said catch from said ratchet.

8. A razor comprising a substantially hollow handle, a head mounted on said handle for movement longitudinally thereof, a blade fixedly supported by said head at one end of said handle, a guard pivoted on said handle for movement to and from a shaving position adjacent said blade, means interlocking the head and the guard for transferring longitudinal movement of said head into pivotal movement of th guard, resilient means within said handle biasing said head in a direction tending to pivot said guard to said shaving position, means within said handle for locking said head against movement relative to the handle, said last mentioned means comprising a spring catch on one of said members and a ratchet engageable by said catch on the other member when the guard is pivoted to said shaving position, said handle having a socket extending longitudinally therein, and a. tool insertable in said socket, said spring catch being positioned within said handle so as to lie in the path of movement of said tool and be disengaged from Said ratchet by said tool, said tool being shaped to abut against a portion of said head and shift said head longitudinally of the handle against the tension of said resilient means to pivot the guard from said shaving position to a position remote from said blade.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rollers are each supported on an axle projecting beyond each end of the roller, said frame having a slotted portion therein supporting the projecting ends of said axles so that the rollers are disposed side by side, said axles having limited movement in said slotted portions towards and away from each other, and resilient means biasing said axles towards each other whereby said rollers are biased into tangential contact.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said biasing means comprises a pair of blade members, said blade members each hav ing a pair of cam surfaees inclined towards each other, said blades being positioned over the projecting ends of said axles with the inclined surfaces engaged with said axles and extending in a plane transversely of the axles, and a spring biasing said blades downwardly on said axles whereby the inclined surfaces on said blades tend to maintain said rollers in tangential contact.

11. In combination, a razor comprising a hollow handle, a head at one end of said handle, a

blade fixedly mounted on said head, a guard pivoted on said handle for movement from a shaving position adjacent the blade to a sharpening position remote from the blade, an actuating member within aid handle operatively connected with said guard so as to pivot said guard when shifted, a spring catch and a keeper engageable by said catch within said handle, said catch and keeper when engaged serving to lock said actuating member against shifting with the guard in said shaving position, said handle having a socket therein, and means independent of the razor for sharpening said blade without removal from said razor comprising a frame, a pair of tangentially contacting sharpening rollers journaled on said frame so as to provide a sharpening groov therebetween, and a razor positioning member on said frame, said razor positioning iember comprising a key member pivoted on said frame and insertable in said socket to support the razor on said frame with the blade arranged in said sharpening groove, said key memher being shaped to release said spring catch and keeper members and engage said actuating memher to pivot said guard into the sharpening position when the key member is inserted within said socket.

12. In combination, a case, a frame arranged for longitudinal sliding movement within said case, a pair of sharpening rollers journaled on said frame with their axes extending transversely of the case, said rollers contacting each other tangentially to form a sharpening groove therebetween, means responsive to the longitudinal movement of said frame relative to said casing for rotating said rollers, a razor having handle and a head at one end of said handle, a blade supported by said head, means on said frame for supporting said razor with the cutting edge of the blade disposed in said sharpening groove, a lifting member pivoted on said frame and engageable with said head when the razor is arranged in said sharpening position on said frame, and means on said casing engageable with said lifting member to pivot the lifting member upwardly and thereby raise said blade out of contact with said roller when the frame reaches the limit of its longitudinal movement in one direction of travel.

JOHN M. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,140,664 Cooper May 25, 1915 1,497,030 Salerni June 10, 1924 1,534,665 Savage Apr. 21, 1925 1,569,213 Baer Jan. 12, 1926 1,952,253 Hoff Mar. 27, 1934 1,987,191 Holtzman Jan. 8, 1935 2,000,941 Gardner May 14, 1935 

